Clasp for neckties and the like



Jan. 30, 1968 VJ, VASTANO ETAL 3,365,755

CLASP FOR NECKTIES AND THELIKE Filed Nov. 9, 1965 INVENTORS. J EPH J.VASTANO BY L UIS F. VASTANO ATTORN EY United States Patent 3,365,755CLASP FOR NECKTIES AND THE LIKE Joseph J. Vastano, 39 Merrymount Drive,Warwick, RI. 02888, and Louis F. Vastano, 31 Goldsmith Ave., EastProvidence, RI. 02906 Filed Nov. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 506,961

- 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-49) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The inventioncomprises a generally U-shaped member with one leg providing the tieclasp front and the other leg being shorter and providing a support fora pivot member. The short leg has a cut-away portion opening out at itsfree end. A gripping member is freely pivotally mounted by rolling thefree ends of the split short leg about pintles formed on the grippingmember at its sides. The gripping member is free of contact with thefront leg to permit easy entry of shirt and tie thereunder when pivoted.Also the gripping member is of a size to fit into the cut-away when thethickness of the shirt and tie is of sufficient dimension.

The present invention relates to improvements in clasps and moreparticularly to an improved clasp for use on neckties and the like.

In prior clasps, especially tie clasps, it has been common to provide athree piece construction with a so-called alligator grip which includesa bulky lever and a spring. In such constructions, the grip of the claspon the tie and shirt has not been uniform and the clasp could slide ortilt relative to the tie. The design also was objectionally bulky.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to providean improved clasp which is self-adjusting to the bulk of that beingclasped.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved claspfor neckties and the like wherein the clasp is of simple two-piececonstruction, of thin, compact design and wherein the need for aseparate spring is obviated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedclasp for neckties and the like, wherein the clasp freely opens withoutspring action to receive that which is to be clasped and wherein theclasp automatically resiliently grips that which is to be clasped uponsliding engagement thereon.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a clasp inaccordance with the foregoing object and wherein the automatic grippingof that which is to be clasped is accompanied by a self-balancingpressure so that gripping at both ends of the clasp is balanced.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from thedetailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a clasp according to the presentinvention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the gripping memberpivoted to partially receive that which is to be clasped;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but wherein the clasp has fullyreceived that which is to be clasped;

FIGURE 5 is a rear elevational view of the clasp.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals applyto like parts throughout, it will be seen that we have provided animproved clasp 10 which includes a generally U-shaped member 12 and agripping member 14.

The U-shaped member 12 comprises a piece, preferably of a metal such asgold or silver, including a first leg 16 and a second leg 18 joined by abight portion 20. The first leg 16 is shorter than the second leg 18 andterminates in a free end 20 approximately medially of the second leg andin spaced relation thereto. The second leg 18 is usually fiat andornamental especially when used as a tie clasp.

The first leg 16 has a cut-out 22 extending along a substantial portionof its length, as viewed best in FIGURES 1 and 5, so as to divide thefree end 20 into a pair of sections 24, 26. The latter are rolled toform aligned pivot bearings for a purpose to be described. As shown inFIG- URES 1 and 5, the cut-out 22 is of a size and shape to receive andaccommodate the arm 28 therein, as when the thickness of the shirt andtie is great. Also this permits a very thin U-shaped member, as now willbe obvious.

The gripping member 14 is formed of resilient material and includes apair of arms 28, 30 integrally joined at an oblique angle andterminating in a pair of gripping faces at 32, 34 opposing the leg 18.The faces 32, 34 each includes a lip 36, 38 extending angularly withrespect to the respective arm with the gripping faces smoothly curved,as shown.

The medial portion of the gripping member, at which the arms 28, 30 arejoined, has a pair of transversely aligned integral pintles 40, 42projecting therefrom. The pintles are of circular cross-section so as tobe freely pivotally received in the bearings 24, 26. It will beunderstood that the latter are rolled about the pintles in forming theassembly.

In use, the gripping member is freely pivotal in its bearing supports.When it is desired to clasp elements such as the tie sections 44, 46 ona shirt front 48, the gripping member 14 is pivoted from the positionshown in FIG- URE 2 to that shown in FIGURE 3 so as to provide a wideentry mouth for the shirt and tie, as shown at 50. The clasp is thenslid over the tie and shirt as shown and the engagement of the latterelements with the gripping member pivots the same to the position shownin FIG- URE 4. The pressure acting on the gripping member 14 isself-balanced and therefore the shirt and tie are gripped at both endsof the clasp, thereby obviating tilting or sliding of the tie clasp whenin position.

In view of the foregoing, it will be seen that upon retraction of theclasp, the gripping face 32 will first be released so the other grippingface 34 can swing out to free the tie and shirt for removal.

Thus it is believed that we have provided an improved clasp for necktiesand the like which fulfills the objects hereinbefore enumerated.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof, the presentembodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since thescope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than bythe description preceding them, and all changes that fall within themetes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well asconjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to beembraced by these claims.

We claim:

1. A clasp comprising a generally U-shaped member having first andsecond legs joined by a bight portion, said first leg beingsubstantially shorter than said second leg, a resilient gripping memberfreely pivotally carried by said first leg at its free end, saidgripping member having a pair of arms joined at an oblique angle andterminating in a pair of spaced gripping faces opposing said second leg,said gripping faces each including a terminal lip extending angularlywith respect to its respective arm and away from said second leg, andthe pivotal axis for said gripping member being located at the jointbetween said arms, said first leg having a cut-out of a size to relieveand accommodate the arms adjacent thereto.

2. A clasp according to claim 1 wherein said free end of said first legis formed into a pair of aligned pivot bearings, and said grippingmember has a pair of pintles integrally extending therefrom and engagedin said pivot bearings.

References Cited Silverman 2425 3 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1895 Great Britain.10/1930 Switzerland.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary Examiner.

